Dear CDF-NY supporters,
My name is Metzli. I am a junior at Barnard College on a full-ride scholarship, and a Beat the Odds® Rising Star. With the Rising Star scholarship, I received financial support for college, but more than that, CDF-NY has been a source of constant support beyond academia.
Since joining the Beat the Odds Scholarship Program, I’ve been selected to represent CDF-NY on a panel at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to discuss the plight of immigrant youth in New York City. Last summer, I also interned at CDF-NY, where I researched immigration policies such as the Green Light NY Bill and the NY Dream Act. This summer, I received the UCLA Dream Summer 2020 Fellowship at the New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC), the first undocumented youth-led organization in New York State.
Although 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, it has also unveiled the best parts out of our communities. Earlier in the semester, as I prepared to start the semester with a new extensive door room essentials list, CDF-NY helped me with emergency provisions. They also invited me to be a panelist on a facilitated conversation around civic engagement and the fight for racial and immigration justice. On this Giving Tuesday, consider supporting CDF-NY, a space that supports young leaders like myself.
Also, consider sharing my businesses: Undocu College Help, a social media hub tailored to supporting first-generation low-income undocumented students in New York City through the college application process, and MLN NYC, an artwork shop that sells customizable artwork, including sneakers.
Thank you,
Metzli